Method and system for improving barcode scanner performance

ABSTRACT

A barcode scanner should output one scanned result per scanned item at checkout. Scanners with large scan areas and multiple scan lines may scan an item more than once as it is dragged through the scan area during the checkout process. A timeout period, during which duplicate scans are ignored, may prevent duplicate scans from being transmitted. Scanners with integrated weight scales may require the use of the scan area for a weight measurement. As a result, weighed items may linger in the scan area longer than the regular timeout period and may be re-scanned. The invention embraces a method and system for mitigating this problem by using information from the scanned barcode and information from the scale to affect how duplicate barcode scans are handled for items requiring a weight measurement and not adversely affected with speed of input as may result with gating and virtual gating with disable/enable scanning commands.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/098,012 for a Method and System for Improving Barcode Scanner Performance filed Dec. 30, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to barcode scanners and, more specifically, to a method and system to reduce unwanted barcode scans for items that require a weight measurement.

BACKGROUND

A barcode scanner may scan a barcode repeatedly as a barcoded item is dragged across an in-counter scanner. This creates a dilemma: does a duplicate barcode scan belong to an item scanned twice, or is it from a new item? The tolerance for these errors (i.e., singulation errors) is low, as they are frustrating in a retail-checkout setting.

In-counter scanners typically have a large field of view and multiple scan lines to capture barcodes in a variety of positions. Small barcode labels (e.g., Data-Bar barcodes found on fruits and vegetables), however, may not intersect well with the multiple scan lines. This fact may contribute to singulation errors.

To eliminate singulation errors, a scanner may ignore duplicate scans from the same barcode for some period (i.e., timeout period) after a barcode is first scanned. Timeout-periods work well in most scenarios but may not be sufficient for items requiring a weight measurement (especially when small barcodes are used).

Weight measurements may be made using a scale integrated with a scanner (i.e., scanner/scale) so that weighed items remain in the scanner's field of view during a measurement. This weight measurement, however, may require a weighed item to remain in the scan area longer than the timeout period. What is more, items with small barcodes may be easily positioned so that their barcode is not visible to the scanner. As a result, the timeout period may be allowed to expire as the item is weighed, and the barcode may be re-scanned as the item is removed from the scale. A need, therefore, exists for a method and system to improve a barcode-scanner's ability to minimize multiple scan errors for items weighed during checkout.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces a computer-implemented method for ignoring duplicate barcode scans. The method includes the step of receiving an item's first barcode scan from a barcode scanner communicatively coupled with a computer. The method also includes the step of determining from the first barcode scan the scanned-item's type. Further, the method includes the step of initiating a scale-timeout mode if the scanned-item's type requires a weight measurement. During the scale time-out mode, the method includes the step of comparing a subsequent barcode scan to an ignore list stored in a computer-readable memory, and if the subsequent barcode scan matches at least part of an item in the ignore list then it is ignored. For as long as the scale is non-idle (i.e., active), the ignore list is retained. When the scale first indicates that it is idle, however, timeout periods begin for barcodes in the ignore list. When a timeout period expires for a barcode, the barcode is removed from the ignore list.

In another aspect, the present invention embraces a computer-implemented method for ignoring multiple barcode scans of the same item. The method includes the step of receiving an item's first barcode scan from a barcode scanner communicatively coupled with a computer. The method further includes the step of initiating a scale-timeout mode if the scanned-item's type is a variable-weight type. During the scale-timeout mode, subsequent barcode scans are compared with the first barcode scan, and any subsequent barcode scans that match, at least part of, the first barcode scan are ignored.

In a possible embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the scale signal is monitored continuously (or as rapidly as is practical) to detect a change in state. The scale-timeout mode continues as long at the scale is active. While in the scale-timeout mode, a list of scanned barcodes (i.e., ignore list) is maintained. When the scale becomes idle, a timeout-period is started and barcodes in the ignore list may be removed as the timeout-period for each barcode expires.

In yet another aspect, the present invention embraces a scanner/scale system. The scanner/scale system includes a barcode scanner for scanning barcodes of items within a field of view. The system also includes a scale for measuring the weight of items placed on a measurement platform. The measurement platform is configured to position the items within the barcode scanner's field of view. The system further includes a computing device with a processor that is communicatively coupled to the barcode scanner and the scale. The processor can execute a barcode-ignore program stored on a computer readable memory that is accessible to the computing device. The barcode-ignore program configures the processor to (i) receive a scanned barcode from the barcode scanner, (ii) determine an item type from the scanned barcode, (iii) receive a scale signal from the scale, and (iv) use the item type and the scale signal to adjust a timeout mode. The timeout mode, includes a timeout period during which repetitively scanned barcodes are ignored.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a state diagram of an exemplary scale indicating the active and idle scale conditions.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary scanner/scale system.

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of the barcode-transmission logic used in scale-timeout mode.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary computer implemented method for ignoring duplicate barcode scans.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention embraces a method and system to eliminate duplicate barcode scans of the same item during a weight measurement. The invention is directed towards scanner/scale systems with indicia readers and weight scales integrated so an item occupies the same area during a weight measurement as it does during a barcode scan. Typically, such systems are further exemplified by in-counter scanner/scales so items for purchase can be scanned and/or weighed conveniently, typically in a fluid motion from a loading belt to a bagging area.

Standardized barcode symbols printed on product packaging provide an effective means to encode information about a product. Barcode scanners are devices that use optical methods to decode printed barcodes (e.g., linear barcode, QR code, etc.). There are two broad categories of barcode scanners. One category uses imaging (typically with electronic cameras with or without a light source). Here, an image of a barcode is transmitted to a computer that processes the digital image to obtain (i.e., decode) the encoded barcode information. The other category of scanner uses a light beam from a light source (e.g., laser diode) scans by traversing across the elements (i.e., bars and spaces) of the barcode to produce amplitude-modulated reflected light. This light can be sensed and demodulated to derive an electronic signal corresponding to the barcode. The electronic signal can then be processed by a processor to decode the barcode. Either the imaging scanner or the laser scanner may be used successfully and in some systems both are employed to add versatility.

The majority of laser scanners in use today, particular in retail environments, employ lenses and moving (i.e., rotating or oscillating) mirrors and/or other optical elements to focus and direct/scan laser beams to and from barcode symbols during scanning operations. In demanding retail-scanning environments, it is common for such systems to have both bottom and side-scanning windows to enable highly aggressive scanner performance, whereby the cashier need only drag a barcoded item past these scanning windows for the barcode thereon to be automatically read with minimal assistance of the cashier or checkout personnel. Such dual scanning window systems are typically referred to as “bioptical” laser scanning systems. These systems employ two sets of optics positioned behind bottom and side-scanning windows integrated into the checkout counter. Examples of polygon-based bioptical laser scanning systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,561,905 and 7,422,156, each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Laser based bioptical scanners are well suited for this invention. The invention, however, is not limited to these systems. The invention could be applied to single plane laser scanning systems or to single/multi-plane image/camera-based scanning systems as well.

Scanner/scale systems at a retail checkout allow for fast and easy gathering of product information during check out. The barcoded information nominally represents item number of the Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) used for price look-up, however may also provide stocking/purchasing systems information to assist a store owner with understanding the store's inventory and plan for future purchases. While quantity is typically implied by the packaging on which the barcode is printed, bulk items without packaging (e.g., fruits and vegetables) may have barcodes as well (e.g., GS1 DataBar). Often a weight measurement for these items is necessary to supplement the barcoded SKU to compute a price. For these items, the integrated scale may be used to provide this extra information. The scales are often integrated so the item is weighed with only a slight modification to the normal scan process.

To scan an item, a user positions the barcode within the scanner's field of view (e.g., scan line of a laser scanner or camera aperture for an imager). The scanner's high scan rates and multiple fields-of-view help ease the positioning requirements for scanning. Positioning a barcode towards a scan window will typically ensure a scan. Typically, this scan window is integrated into the checkout counter between an item feed belt or gathering area and the item take-away bagging area. A user typically drags an item to be scanned across the window as the user moves the item into the bagging area. The item is dragged with its barcode so that at least one field of view “sees” the barcode.

Dragging items across the scan window may cause multiple scans since the item is likely to encounter a scan from more than one scan line or camera aperture, multiple scans from the same scan line or camera aperture, or both. In these cases, a computer (e.g., as part of an automatic input system) must process (e.g., using a processor) the repeated scans to prevent a single item from being output multiple times. Configurable timeout periods based on optical inputs have been commonly devised to block these duplicate scans. In gateless, triggerless scanning designs, these timeout periods may be based on optical inputs to devices that continuously search for decodable data.

A timeout period is initiated after a barcode is read (i.e., scanned). After a first barcode scan, the barcode is added to an ignore list stored in a computer readable memory (e.g., hard drive, RAM, etc.) during the timeout period, subsequent scans are compared to the ignore list contents. If a subsequent scan matches (at least part of) a barcode in the ignore list, then the subsequently scanned barcode is ignored or deleted. The timeout period must expire before the same barcode can be transmitted again to the host device. Whenever a duplicate scan occurs, the timeout period may be restarted to ensure that barcode has left the scan area before allowing the same barcode to be transmitted.

As an example, suppose the scanner decodes and transmits a barcode attached to a bunch of bananas that has just entered the scanner's field of view. The scan starts a timeout of 400 milliseconds (i.e., msec). Next, the same barcode is scanned and decoded (but not transmitted) several more times in rapid succession. Each time, the scanner resets the timeout to 400 msec and the banana barcode is kept in the ignore list.

This short timeout (i.e., regular mode) eliminates most duplicate scans in normal situations, however may not be sufficient for items that also require a weight measurement. Here, an item rests in the scan region during a weight measurement and the barcode may be coincidentally stationary in a region without an optically useful field of view. As the item is weighed, the regular-mode timeout may expire. When the item is removed from the scale, it may reencounter one or more scan lines/fields of view, and if the timeout has expired, these subsequent scans may be transmitted to the host device, resulting in errors. A different timeout mode (i.e., scale-timeout mode) having different parameters for singulation (e.g., different timeout periods, perpetual timeout periods, etc.) is desirable for items that require a weight measurement.

The duplicate scan problem for items requiring a weight measurement is related to the item's interaction with the scale (e.g., lingering in the scan area during a weight measurement with a barcode hidden from the scanner). After scanning a weighed item, examining the scale's condition may help to indicate the position of the object. This heuristic may be used to adjust a scale-timeout period or switch between modes of operation (e.g., regular mode vs. scale-timeout mode).

An integrated scale may use electrical or mechanical means to determine the weight or mass of an item. Electronic scales for retail typically use at least one strain gauge to create or adjust an electronic signal in proportion to an items weight. A host device (e.g., computing device) may receive this electronic signal directly (e.g., weight measurement) or may receive the weight reported with other scale status information in a message sent via a communication protocol (e.g., scale-stability message).

For a scale integrated with in-counter barcode scanner, a scale signal evaluated over a period may provide a good estimate of the item's location. As shown in FIG. 1, the scale may occupy one of three states 10,11,12. Two states 11,12 indicate that the scale is active 5 and one state 10 indicates that the scale is idle (i.e., not active) 1. A scale signal indicating that the scale is active 5 suggests that the item is likely to be in scan area. A scale signal indicating that the scale is idle 1 indicates that nothing is likely to be in the scan area. The scale states may be defined by both the instantaneous weight and the weight change within some period. For example, if the scale indicates a non-zero weight and a stable weight (i.e., not changing as compared to some threshold over a period) 11, then an item is most likely resting on the scale. If the weight is unstable (i.e., changing over a period) 12 then an item has likely either just been placed on the scale or has just been removed from the scale. In either case, the item may still be in the scan area. If the scale indicates a stable, zero weight 10, however, the item is likely to be outside the scan area.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of an exemplary scanner/scale system with an integrated barcode scanner and scale. An item (e.g., a banana bunch) 15 is placed on the scale's platter 18 (i.e., measurement platform) for a weight measurement. The banana bunch 15 and its barcode 16 are also positioned in the barcode scanner's field of view 17 when placed on the measurement platform 18 for a weight measurement by the scale 19. A first barcode scan is captured by the barcode scanner and transmitted to a computing device 21 having an integrated processor 20. The scale 19 sends a scale signal indicating an active scale 5 to the processor 20. The processor is running a barcode-ignore program 22 stored in a computer readable memory 23. The barcode-ignore program configures the processor to reject any subsequent barcode scans that match the first barcode scan (i.e., scale-timeout mode).

The scale-timeout mode is illustrated in FIG. 3. The barcode-transmission logic illustrated in the flowchart demonstrates how a barcode is first evaluated for duplicates prior to its transmission. The scale-timeout mode is activated when a barcode indicates that scanned-item's type is a type that requires a weight measurement.

During the scale-timeout mode 42, a decoded barcode is received 30 from the barcode scanner 24. The received barcode 30 is first compared to an ignore list stored on a computer readable memory 23. If the received barcode 30 is not found in the ignore list, then the barcode may be added to the ignore list 33 and transmitted 34 without risk of duplication. If the barcode matches an item in the ignore list, however, then the received barcode is ignored, deleted, or otherwise not transmitted to another device 32.

Barcode rejection may occur when the received barcode matches an ignore-list item completely. Alternatively, the received barcode may partially match an ignore-list item. The threshold for rejection may be adjusted based on the application. Items in the ignore list may include partially scanned barcodes, duplicate barcodes, and/or information related to ignore list items (or derived from the ignore list items). Barcodes placed in the ignore list during a scale-timeout mode may expire (i.e., be removed from the list) after a period. This period may be adjusted for the application to ensure there are no duplicate scans. Items in the ignore list may all have the same expiration conditions or could have different expiration conditions based on some other parameter, such as barcode type.

Ignore-list items may remain in the ignore list as long as the system remains in the scale-timeout mode. The ignore-list's contents may be emptied at the end of the scale-timeout mode (when the scale becomes inactive). The items may be removed from the list all at once or each may be removed from the list after some timeout period has expired. This timeout period may be the same or different for each item in the list and may be adjustable based on the item type.

Alternatively, when the scale-timeout mode ends, the ignore list contents may be transferred or reused. For example, the contents of the ignore list may become the initial conditions for a similar barcode transmission logic in a regular mode. The regular mode being a timeout mode not involving the scale and having different ignore list parameters (e.g., timeout period).

Information about the barcode type and information from the scale may determine when the system, graphically depicted in FIG. 2, enters into (and exits from) a scale-time out mode. FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart for a computer-implemented method for ignoring duplicate barcode scans using a scale timeout mode. This method may be part of a barcode-ignore software program 22 stored on a computer readable memory 23 and executed by a processor 20 integrated in a computing device 21 that is communicatively couple to a barcode scanner 24 and a scale 19. The method starts by receiving a barcode 40 from a barcode scanner 24 (e.g., a laser scanner or a barcode imager). The barcode is typically a linear barcode but may be another type (e.g., QR code, stacked barcode, etc.). The barcode is typically printed and affixed to the item of interest but could also be displayed and/or apart from the item of interest. The barcode may be received 40 as a decoded message or a signal that requires decoding. The decoded barcode message is analyzed to determine the item's type 41. For example, an item is the type that requires a weight measurement as part of the checkout process (e.g., fruits, vegetables, etc.). If the barcode indicates that the item it is associated with requires a weight measurement then the system enters into a scale-timeout mode 42. In this mode, special care is taken to avoid duplicate scans of items requiring extra time in the scan areas for a weight measurement. The details of the scale-time out mode are illustrated in FIG. 3. Scale-timeout mode continues until the scale becomes idle.

The system monitors the scale to determine when the scale becomes idle 43. When the scale becomes idle the items may be removed from the ignore list after some timeout period. As such, a timeout period is started 44 when the scale becomes inactive and allowed to expire before returning the system to a regular mode 45.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. 

1. A computer-implemented method for ignoring duplicate barcode scans during a weight measurement, the method comprising: receiving an item's first barcode scan from a barcode scanner communicatively coupled to a computer; determining from the first barcode scan the scanned-item's type; initiating a scale-timeout mode if the scanned-item's type requires a weight measurement using a scale communicatively coupled to the computer; ignoring, while in the scale-timeout mode, a subsequent barcode scan if the subsequent barcode scan matches at least part of an item in an ignore list stored in a computer-readable memory; and ending the scale-timeout mode if a scale signal from the scale indicates that the scale is idle.
 2. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the items on the ignore list are removed from the list after a period of time.
 3. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 comprising initiating a regular mode if either (i) the scale-timeout mode has ended or (ii) the scanned-item's type requires no weight measurement.
 4. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the scale signal comprises a weight measurement.
 5. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the scale signal comprises a scale-stability message.
 6. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the scale positions items within the barcode scanner's field of view during a weight measurement.
 7. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein a point-of-sale system comprises the scale, the barcode scanner, and the computer.
 8. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the ending the scale-timeout mode comprises starting a scale timeout period that must expire before ending the scale-timeout period.
 9. A computer implemented method for ignoring multiple barcode scans of the same item, the method comprising: receiving an item's first barcode scan from a barcode scanner communicatively coupled with a computer; determining from the first barcode scan the scanned-item's type; initiating a scale-timeout period if the scanned-item's type is a variable-weight type; starting a scale-timeout mode wherein subsequent barcode scans are compared with the first barcode scan and any subsequent barcode scans that match, at least part of, the first barcode scan are ignored; obtaining, a scale signal from a scale communicatively coupled to the computer; if the scale signal indicates that the scale is active, restarting the scale-timeout period and remaining in scale-timeout mode; and if the scale signal indicates that the scale is not active, ending the scale-timeout mode after a delay.
 10. The computer implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the step of ending the scale-timeout mode comprises resetting scale-timeout mode settings.
 11. The computer implemented method according to claim 10, wherein the scale-timeout mode settings comprise a list of scanned barcodes.
 12. The computer implemented method according to claim 9 comprising initiating a regular mode if either (i) the scale-timeout mode has ended or (ii) the scanned-item's type is not a variable-weight type.
 13. The computer implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the barcode scanner and the scale are positioned respectively so the item rests within the barcode scanner's field of view during a weight measurement.
 14. The computer implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the scale signal comprises a weight measurement and the scale signal indicates that the scale is active when (i) the weight measurement is stable and (ii) the weight measurement is greater than about zero.
 15. The computer implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the scale signal comprises a weight measurement and the scale signal indicates that the scale is active when the weight measurement is unstable.
 16. The computer implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the scale signal comprises a weight measurement and the scale signal indicates that the scale is not active when (i) the weight measurement is stable and (ii) the weight measurement is about zero.
 17. A scanner/scale system comprising: a barcode scanner for scanning barcodes of items within a field of view; a scale for measuring the weight of items placed on a measurement platform, said measurement platform configured to position the items within the barcode scanner's field of view; a computing device having a processor communicatively coupled to the barcode scanner and the scale, the processor capable of executing a barcode-ignore program stored on a computer readable memory, said computer readable memory accessible to the computing device; wherein said barcode-ignore program configures the processor for (i) receiving a scanned barcode from the barcode scanner, (ii) determining an item type from the scanned barcode, (iii) receiving a scale signal from the scale, and (iv) using the item type and the scale signal to adjust a scale-timeout mode, wherein said scale-timeout mode comprises a timeout period during which repetitively scanned barcodes are ignored.
 18. The scanner/scale system according to claim 17, wherein the scale-timeout mode adjustment comprises restarting the timeout period.
 19. The scanner/scale system according to claim 17, wherein the scale-timeout mode adjustment comprises ending the scale-timeout mode. 